The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two contenders vying for your attention are the ZTE Blade V40 Design and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12. Both offer compelling features at accessible price points, but which one truly delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 emerges as the clear winner. Its superior chipset, faster charging, brighter display, and impressive battery life outweigh the ZTE Blade V40 Design's strengths. While the Blade V40 offers a sleek design, the Redmi Note 12 provides a more well-rounded package.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, December 21 | 2022, October 27 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, January 10 | Available. Released 2023, January 11 |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 163 x 74 x 8 mm (6.42 x 2.91 x 0.31 in) | 165.9 x 76.2 x 8 mm (6.53 x 3.00 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 183.4 g (6.46 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~87.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | AMOLED, 120Hz, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Unisoc Tiger T616 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM4375 Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP1 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 12, MyOS 12 | Android 12, MIUI 14 (International), MIUI 13 (India) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.2 | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, (wide) | - |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0" |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | Unspecified | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Yes | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired | 33W wired, 50% in 22 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Sky Blue, Starry Black | Frosted Green, Matte Black, Mystique Blue |
| Models | 8046 | 22111317I, 22111317G |
| Price | About 200 EUR | € 151.99 / $ 219.99 / ₹ 11,999 |
| SAR | - | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.68 W/kg (head) 0.91 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 101h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-28.0 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 360745 (v9)
GeekBench: 1998 (v5.1), 2017 (v6) |
ZTE Blade V40 Design
- Sleek Design
- Simple User Interface
- Affordable Price
- Weaker Processor
- Less Bright Display
- Slower Charging
- Unspecified Battery Life
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12
- Powerful Processor (Snapdragon 4 Gen 1)
- Brighter Display
- Longer Battery Life
- Faster Charging
- Likely Better Camera
- Design may be less premium than Blade V40
- Software bloat possible (typical of Xiaomi
Display Comparison
The Redmi Note 12 boasts a significantly brighter display (706 nits) compared to the Blade V40, offering better visibility in sunlight. The 'Infinite' contrast ratio mentioned for the Redmi Note 12 suggests excellent image quality, while the Blade V40's display, though adequate, lacks the same vibrancy and clarity. The Redmi Note 12 likely has a higher resolution as well, though specific details are missing.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Redmi Note 12 is expected to have a more advanced camera system. Xiaomi typically prioritizes camera quality in its Redmi Note series. The Blade V40's camera is likely adequate for basic photography, but the Redmi Note 12 should deliver sharper images, better low-light performance, and potentially more features.
Performance
The Redmi Note 12's Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset (6nm) is a substantial upgrade over the Blade V40's Unisoc Tiger T616 (12nm). The Cortex-A78 cores in the Snapdragon offer significantly better performance than the Cortex-A75 cores in the Unisoc chip. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Redmi Note 12.
Battery Life
The Redmi Note 12 shines in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 101 hours and an active use score of 10:58 hours. The Blade V40's battery life is not explicitly stated, but it's likely to be less impressive than the Redmi Note 12's. The Redmi Note 12 also offers faster charging (33W) compared to the Blade V40's 22.5W.
Buying Guide
The ZTE Blade V40 Design is a good choice for users prioritizing aesthetics and a simple user experience on a tight budget. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is ideal for those seeking better performance, a longer-lasting battery, and a more versatile camera system, even within the budget segment.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset.
❓ Does the ZTE Blade V40 Design have a good camera?
The ZTE Blade V40 Design's camera is adequate for basic photography, but the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is expected to offer superior image quality and features.
